SUV's Popularity Slips, Study Says

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There has been a five percent decline in consumer interest in buying sport utility vehicles over the last six weeks, according to an internet study by the marketing research arm of Kelley Blue Book, the well-known publisher of new and used car information.

Among the findings of the study:

Overall favorability of SUVs has dropped five percent since January.

Of those consumers not considering an SUV as their next purchase, their No. 1 reason for not buying the car is gas prices.

43 percent of respondents believe SUVs have a significant impact on foreign oil dependence versus only 36 percent just six weeks ago.

44 percent of car-buyers felt that car manufacturers do not care about the social impact SUVs have on the U.S., a gain of three percent over the last six weeks.

While "family-oriented" remained the top attribute given to SUV drivers, it dropped from 68 percent to 60 percent, while the attribute of "irresponsible" gained ground.

"While sales of large SUVs are not necessarily declining, we are seeing greater interest in crossover vehicles and small SUVs," said Charlie Vogelheim, executive editor, Kelley Blue Book. "Regardless, the editorial team at Kelley Blue Book believes the heyday of large SUVs is about over."

SUV's Popularity Holds, Advocate Says

In a rebuttal to the Kelley findings, Jason H. Vines, President of the SUV Owners of America (SUVOA), said in a statement: "The folks at Kelley Blue Book made a mountain out of a mole hill today and in the process provided a classic 'glass-is-half-empty' editorial in order to manufacture news."

What Kelley didn't report, Vines' statement noted, was that during that same period as the Kelley study, America has gone to war, gas prices have increased to some of their highest levels and overall vehicle sales decreased by five percent as well. Vines asks: Is there really news in these survey numbers?

The fact, Vines statement contends, is that while overall vehicle sales are down this year by five percent, sales of all SUVs are out-performing the market, down just two percent. And, the heart of the SUV market — the midsize SUVs — also are out-performing the overall vehicle market, down just four percent despite the uncertain times. Sure, some SUVs are up while others are down, but overall it's still a robust market that represents one out of every four new vehicle sales, Vines concluded.